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Ould Lammas Fair, Co. Antrim

Two day market fair in Ballycastle.

'The Ould Lammas Fair' has taken place annually in Ballycastle, Co Antrim, since the seventeenth century. Celebrated on the last Monday and Tuesday in August, the fair marks the end of summer and beginning of harvest. The origins of the fair are embroiled in the myths and legends of Ireland, although the tradition such festivals can be found in many cultures throughout the world.

The Lammas Fair traditionally attracts thousands of people from around the world, and features more than 400 stalls of craft, bric-a-brac and farm produce. Local specialities include 'Yellow Man', a sweet honeycomb candy, and a red seaweed known as 'dulse'. Street entertainment, including face-painting and pony rides, lends a carnival atmosphere, while traditional music sessions in the pubs cater to a different clientele. Tel: + 44 (0) 28 2076 2024.

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Ireland's oldest traditional market fair. Its exact origin is uncertain, but one theory is that it began as a result of the occupation of the area around Ballycastle by the MacDonnells of the Isles in the early part of the sixteenth century.